Hadith #8268

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his purified progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he advises us to refrain from hastily exposing the faults of others and to not consider ourselves safe from the consequences of our own minor sins. Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this hadith and explore its significance in light of the Quran.

The first part of the hadith states,

Servant of Allah, do not make haste in [exposing] the fault of a servant, for he may have been forgiven for it.

Here, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to be cautious and refrain from hastily exposing the faults of others. The word (ayb) "عَيْبِ" refers to a fault or a mistake. It is important to note that exposing someone's faults can have severe consequences, both for the individual and for the community as a whole. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) emphasizes the importance of preserving the dignity and honor of others in the Quran, stating in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11),

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further advises,

for he may have been forgiven for it.

This highlights the possibility that the person whose fault we are eager to expose may have already sought forgiveness from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and been granted forgiveness. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) is the Most Merciful and Forgiving, and it is not for us to judge the state of someone's heart or their relationship with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). In Surah An-Nur (24:22), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

The second part of the hadith states,

and do not count yourself safe from [your] small sins as you might be punished for them.

Here, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to be mindful of our own actions and not to underestimate the consequences of our minor sins. The phrase (ta'man 'ala) "تَأْمَنْ عَلَىٰ" means to feel safe or secure from something. It is a reminder that no sin, no matter how small it may seem, should be taken lightly. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us in the Quran in Surah Al-Isra (17:81),

And say, 'Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart.'

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further states,

as you might be punished for them.

This serves as a reminder that even our minor sins can have consequences and may lead to punishment. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:38),

And [as for] the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off their hands in recompense for what they earned, as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

In conclusion, this hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for us as Muslims to be cautious in exposing the faults of others and to be mindful of our own actions. It teaches us the importance of preserving the dignity and honor of others, as well as the need to constantly seek forgiveness from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) for our own sins, no matter how small they may seem. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and understanding to implement the teachings of this hadith in our lives.